Method of making toy structural elements



May 11, 1943 J. E. GRANT 2,318,849

METHOD 0F MAKING .TOY STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet l F .L El i E INV ENT OR.

Joseph E Gmnf.

May 11, 1943.

METHOD J. E. GRANT 2,318,849

OF MAKING TOY STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 2l, 1941 F '5*E. i i

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 11, 1943. J. E. GRANT 2,318,849

METHOD OF MAKING TOY STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 2l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

Joseph E. Gr'cmf.

May ll, 1943. Jv. E. GRANT METHOD oF MAKING ToY STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS Filed Feb. 21, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

Patented `May 1l, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD F MAKING TOY STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making toy structural elements.

One of the general objects of the invention is to provide an improved method for making a toy structural element.

Another general object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for making a toy structural element.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel method of making an elongated ribbed toy structural element from paper or similar flexible material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form member for making a toy structural element.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for automatically folding a plurality of toy structural elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for simultaneously folding a plurality of toy structural elements.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a toy structure element made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of a blank used for making the elements.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end View showing the first step in folding the blank.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 4, showing successive steps in the folding operation.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a form member.

Fig. 9 is an end View of the form member, showing folded structural elements thereon.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. l, showing a slight modification of my invention.

Fig. 10A is a top plan View of a modified blank.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end view showing a folding apparatus embodying they features of my invention.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary end view, showing the apparatus with the parts in another position.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 with parts broken away and with the parts in another position.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line Iii-I4, Fig. 1l.

Fig. 15 is an end View of the apparatus with the pull knob shaft in section.

Fig. 15A isan enlarged fragmentary det-ail showing the control rod.

Fig. 16 is a rear View of the apparatus on a reduced scale.

Fig. 16A is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the locking rod.

Fig. 17 is a top plan sectional View through a tube member for forming a structural unit.

Fig. 18 is a section taken on .line Iii- I8 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a section taken on line I9-I9 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a section taken on line 29-20 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 21 is a section taken on line 2I-2I of Fig. 17.

Fig. 22 is a section taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 23 is a section taken on line 2323 of Fig. 17, and

Fig. 24 is a section taken on line 24-24 of Fig. 17.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I have shown my invention as employed in making a toy structural element which is indicated generally at I0. This element, as shown, includes a pair of sides B and B', a pair of flaps C and C and a base A.

In Fig. 2 I have shown two running blanks joined in side by side relation for making two of the toy elements. The blank shown in Fig. 2 is severed along the line II and is provided with upwardly directed creases I2 and I3 and downwardly directed creases Ill and I5, which define the sides, aps and base.

In the folding operation the elongated strip is rst folded about the crease line I4 so that the part A overlaps the part B and a portion of the part C. The parts are then folded along the crease line I2, as shown in Fig. 5. The parts may then be folded about the crease line I3 to the position shown in Fig. 6 and finally the parts may be folded about the'crease line I5 to the position shown in Fig. 7. After the blank i-s in the form shown in Fig. 7, it may be inserted in a slot I6 provided in a form member I'I, which member has plane upper and lower bases I8 and I9, which are joined by curved portions 29. The form member at each end is provided with a flexible member 2I which may be made of rubber and which is secured in place as at 22. There is one of the slots I6 in the face I8 and another slot in the face I9, so that two of the elements may be simultaneously completed.

After the elements are inserted in the slots, clamping'boards 23` are arranged over theelements and the band 2| is moved to the position shown in Fig. 9.

When the strip is in blank form, the entire area may be coated with glue which will dry and may be moistened again to render it active. The 'base shown in dotted lines in Fig, 9 is raised when the element is being made and the upper faces of the sides at 24 and 25 are moistened after which the base is lowered and is secured by the glue. The inner faces of the flaps at 21 and 28 and the portion V29 remain with the glue in undisturbed condition so that these portions,

remain ready to be moistened and secured when,

Fig. 10A, I show a blank for making the element I'.

In Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive, I show an apparatus for making a toy structural element from the blank shown in Fig. A. As shown, the apparatus includes a base 49 having bosses 4| thereon, which support a shaft 42. The base 46 is provided with a recess 43 and has a top surface 44 about the recess. The base is provided with apertures in each of which a rod 45 is arranged.

The rods 45.' slidably support a plurality of lower forming members 46, each of which is provided with a pair of rollers 41 (see Figs. 12 and 14) at its lower end. These rollers 41 engage the wall in the bottom of the recess 43 and support the lower forming members. The forming members are provided on their ends with headed pins 48 on which links 49 are arranged.y Each of the links includes an elongated slot 50 and the construction is such that the links limit the separating movement of the lower forming members as shown in Fig. 1l.

The shaft 42 is fitted in elongated apertures 5l in bosses 52 in a top member 53 which includes a recess 54 and the end of the top member includes elongated slots 55 in which rods 56 are mounted to slide vertically in the slots. Collars 51 on the rods 56 prevent axial movement thereof. Mounted on the rods I show a plurality of upper forming members 60 which are aligned with the lower forming members and these members have opposed faces 6| which, when the top member is moved to the position shown in Fig, 11, firmly clamp a sheet of cardboard or similar material 62 therebetween for a folding operation to be presently described.

Each of the upper forming members 60 is provided with a plurality of elongated recesses 65 in which a pin 66 moves. This pin is urged upwardly by a spring 61 and the pins support a yoke member 68 which supports a plurality of rollers 69 and the construction is such that the springs 61 normally urge the forming Vmembers downwardly.

Between each of the forming members 66 a depressing member 10 is provided which is connected at each end with the adjacent forming members by lazy-tong links 1 I. Each of the depressing members 10 includes a tapered lower end 12. f

In the adjacent faces thereof surrounding the shafts 56 each of the forming members 60 includes an enlarged recess 13 and each of the depressing members 10 includes an elongated aperture 14 in which the shafts 56 are positioned.

Surrounding the shafts 56 between adjacent forming members 60 and positioned in the recesses 13 thereof springs 15 are provided which resiliently urge the forming members apart. Ex-

tended movement of the forming members 60 is restricted by pins 16 adapted to be engaged by the links 1|.

Between the rods 56 the member 69 which is nearest to the collars 51 has a locking rod 11 secured thereto which extends through the rear wall of the top member 53 and has a peripheral groove 18 therein a predetermined distance from the rear forming member.

Mounted on the rear wall of the top member adjacent the rod 11 a vertically movable plate 19 is secured to the top member by screws 8U. The plate 19 has a reduced slot 8l therein which, when the forming members are completely compressed, may be moved down into the groove 18 of the rod 11 to retain t-he members 60 in a compressed position.

A similar slide latch plate 82 is secured to the outer front face of the base 48 by a plurality of screws 83. The plate 82 has a reduced recess 84 therein which, when the members 46 are in an extreme forward position, is moved into a peripheral groove 85 in a control rod 45v which is secured to the rear member 46 and retains the members 46 in a forward position.

To releasably retain the top member 53 in engagement with the base 49 a latch mechanism81 is provided. The latch mechanism 81 includes a pair of spaced pins 88 pivotally secured as at 89 to lugs 90 of the base. Each of the pins 88 is connected to a cross bar 9| through a spring pressed telescopic member 92 which isadapted to be positioned in a recess 93 of a lug 94 on the top member 54. Intermediate the length thereof the bar 9| includes an operating handle 95.

After the cardboard 62 is firmly clamped between the members 46 and 6D as previously described an operator grasps the handle 45a on the rod 45 and pulls it outward thus moving the rear member 46 towards the next adjacent member 46. As the rear member 46 is thus moved it moves the rear member 6U with it which, when thus moved, causes the adjacent depressing member 10 to move downward through the medium of the links 1|. The rear member 46 moves forwardly into engagement with the next adjacent member 46 in which position the rear depressingv member 10 is engaged by the rear member El)` and engages the next forward member'60.

As the parts thus move the rear members 46 and 60 carry a portion of the cardboard 62'Wth them and the depressing member 1U moves downward and forces a portion of the cardboard downward to form a V-shaped portion' as shown in Fig. 12.

The operator continues to pull the rod 45. forward until all the members 46 contact each .other and the forwardmost one contacts the front of the base as shown in Fig. 13. When the device is in this positionv all the necessary folding oper-` ations have been completed and thenthe operator moves the latch plate 19 into position to-retain the members 60 forward and moves the'latch plate 82 into position to retain the members 46- 2 forward. Thereafter the operator releases the Thereafter the formed structural members are removed from the lower members 46.

In Figs. 17 to 24 I havev showna novel apparatus for forming my structural element from a continuous length of material'. As shown the device includes a tube H10` into" which afiat stript of material |0I is fed by a pair of opposed rollers |02 and |03. As shown the roller |02 has circular protuberances |04 thereon for scoring certain fold lines on the material |0| and the roller |03 has circular protuberances |05 thereon for scoring other fold lines on the material.

The tube |00 includes an enlarged portion |06 which forms the center portion of the material into a V to form flap portions |01 as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Thereafter the tube |00 includes a portion |08 which turns the upper portion of the material downward to a horizontal position as shown in Figs. 21 and 22 to form a base portion |09.

Within the portion |08 the device includes a gluing roller I |0 which applies glue to the underside of the horizontally positioned portion |00 of the material as shown in Fig. 22. A roller I2 above the gluing roller retains the material in contact With the gluing roller l0.

Thereafter the tube |00 includes a portion ||3 which directs the horizontal portion |09 of the material downward to a vertical position as shown in Figs. 23 and 24 and a roller ||4 firmly presses the base portion |09 against side ange portions ||5 to secure it thereto by the applied glue.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. The method of making a toy structural element comprising taking an elongated rectangular blank of flexible material, folding the blank to provide a base, folding a. portion to overlie one side of the base to form a side, bending a flap upwardly from the side, bending a second flap downwardly from the first flap, then bending a second side outwardly from the second flap until its edge is coextensive with the edge of the base and thereafter gluing the sides to the base.

2. The method of making a toy structural element comprising taking an elongated rectangular blank of flexible material, bending a portion to form a side, bending a flap upwardly from the side, bending a second flap downwardly from the first ap, then bending a second side outwardly from the second flap and thereafter securing a base which is integral With one of the sides to the lower surfaces of the sides.

3. The method of making a toy structural element comprising taking an elongated rectangular blank of flexible material, bending a, portion to form a side, bending a flap upwardly at an obtuse angle to the side, bending a second flap downwardly from the first ap, then bending a pair of connected sides outwardly at an obtuse angle to the second flap, bending a third ap upwardly at an obtuse angle to the outermost of the pair of connected sides and continuing the folding operation until a series of elements are folded and thereafter securing a base to the lower surfaces of the sides.

4. The method of making a toy structural element comprising taking an elongated blank of eXible material, bending up a iiap from a side portion of the blank and at an obtuse angle to the side portion of the blank, the flap bending line being spaced inwardly from one edge of the blank, bending down a second flap from the first flap, bending outwardly a second side portion at an obtuse angle to the second ap and in the same plane as the first side portion and then securing a one piece base to the lower surfaces of the side portions while the lower portion of the flaps are spaced apart so that the flaps are held in inverted V-shape.

JOSEPH E. GRANT. 

